U.S. patent application number 14/235164 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-19 for connecting device for the articulated connection of a wiper blade to a wiper arm, and an adaptor.
This patent application is currently assigned to ROBERT BOSCH GMBH. The applicant listed for this patent is Helmut Depondt. Invention is credited to Helmut Depondt.
Application Number | 20140165321 14/235164 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46456638 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140165321 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Depondt; Helmut |
June 19, 2014 |
CONNECTING DEVICE FOR THE ARTICULATED CONNECTION OF A WIPER BLADE
TO A WIPER ARM, AND AN ADAPTOR
Abstract
The invention is based on a connecting device (10) for the
articulated connection of a wiper blade (11) to a wiper arm (24,
26, 28, 30, 32, 34), said connecting device having a connecting
element (16) which is connected to a supporting element (22) of the
wiper blade (11) for conjoint rotation and on which an adaptor (18)
is mounted pivotably transversely with respect to the longitudinal
direction thereof, said adaptor being able to be fastened
releasably and for conjoint rotation to the free end of the wiper
arm (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34) or to a joining element (36, 38, 40,
42, 44, 46) connected fixedly to the latter, wherein the adaptor
(18) has a plurality of means (80, 96, 100, 102, 122, 126, 130,
134, 144) in order to be able to receive different joining elements
(36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46) of different wiper arms (24, 26, 28, 30,
32, 34), wherein the means include stop edges (86), spring latches
(88), locking cams (100), spring clips (122) and spring tongues
(128, 132) with latching cams (130, 134). It is proposed that the
outsides of the side walls (90) of the adaptor (18) have locking
cams (100) in the region of the driving end, wherein, in the fitted
state, play-compensating ribs (64, 68) of a first or second joining
element (36, 38) or of a covering cap (20) of the adaptor (18)
engage under the locking cams (100) and bear on the end side
against the steps (101) thereof while securing cams (66) which are
arranged on the insides of the side walls (48, 108) of the first
joining element (36), of the second joining element (38) or of the
covering cap (20) in a manner offset in the longitudinal direction
relative to the play-compensating ribs (64, 68) with respect to the
driven end engage in installation gaps (96) in the side walls (90)
of the adaptor (18), said installation gaps running transversely
with respect to the play-compensating ribs (64, 68), and wherein,
in the fitted state, the first joining element (36), the second
joining element (38) or the covering cap (20) are clamped between
the installation gaps (96) and a stop edge (86) by the front part
(80) which is elastically flexible in the longitudinal direction,
wherein the stop edge (86) is arranged at the transition of the
front part (80) of the adaptor (18) to the driving part of the
adaptor (18).
Inventors: |
Depondt; Helmut; (Kessel-Lo,
BE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Depondt; Helmut |
Kessel-Lo |
|
BE |
|
|
Assignee: |
ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
Stuttgart
DE
|
Family ID: |
46456638 |
Appl. No.: |
14/235164 |
Filed: |
July 6, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
July 6, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2012/063261 |
371 Date: |
January 27, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/250.32 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60S 1/4087 20130101;
B60S 1/4045 20130101; B60S 1/4077 20130101; B60S 1/4003 20130101;
B60S 1/407 20130101; B60S 1/387 20130101; B60S 2001/4054 20130101;
B60S 1/4048 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/250.32 |
International
Class: |
B60S 1/40 20060101
B60S001/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 26, 2011 |
DE |
10 2011 079 783.1 |
Claims
1. A connecting device (10) for the articulated connection of a
wiper blade (11) to a wiper arm (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34), said
connecting device having a connecting element (16) which is
connected to a supporting element (22) of the wiper blade (11) for
conjoint rotation and on which an adaptor (18) is mounted pivotably
transversely with respect to a longitudinal direction thereof, said
adaptor being configured to be fastened releasably and for conjoint
rotation to a free end of the wiper arm (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34) or
to a joining element (36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46) connected fixedly to
the free end of the wiper arm, wherein the adaptor (18) has a
plurality of means (80, 96, 100, 102, 122, 126, 130, 134, 144) in
order to be able to receive different joining elements (36, 38, 40,
42, 44, 46) of different wiper arms (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34),
wherein the means include stop edges (86), spring latches (88),
locking cams (100), spring clips (122) and spring tongues (128,
132) with latching cams (130, 134), characterized in that outsides
of the side walls (90) of the adaptor (18) have locking cams (100)
in a region of a driving end, wherein, in a fitted state,
play-compensating ribs (64, 68) of a first or second joining
element (36, 38) or of a covering cap (20) of the adaptor (18)
engage under the locking cams (100) and bear on an end side against
steps (101) thereof while securing cams (66) which are arranged on
insides of side walls (48, 108) of the first joining element (36),
of the second joining element (38) or of the covering cap (20) in a
manner offset in the longitudinal direction relative to the
play-compensating ribs (64, 68) with respect to the driven end
engage in installation gaps (96) in the side walls (90) of the
adaptor (18), said installation gaps running transversely with
respect to the play-compensating ribs (64, 68) and in that, in the
fitted state, the first joining element (36), the second joining
element (38) or the covering cap (20) are clamped between the
installation gaps (96) and a stop edge (86) by a front part (80)
which is elastically flexible in the longitudinal direction,
wherein the stop edge (86) is arranged at a transition of the front
part (80) of the adaptor (18) to a driving part of the adaptor
(18).
2. The connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized
in that the stop edge (86) of the adaptor (18) runs concavely in a
region of the side walls (82) and has a spring latch (88) in a
region of a top wall (84) of the front part (80) of the adaptor
(18), said spring latch, in the fitted state, overlapping a top
wall (50) of the first or second joining element (26, 28) or of the
covering cap (20) and engaging in a latching recess (112) of the
joining element (26, 28) or of the covering cap (20).
3. The connecting device (10) according to claim 2, characterized
in that the top wall (84) of the front part (80) has a wall
structure (156) which increases flexibility of the spring latch
(88).
4. The connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized
in that the side walls (90) of the adaptor (18) have respectively a
gap (98) starting at an upper edge on a drive input side of the
stop edge (86) and a gap (98) starting at a lower edge on a drive
output side of the locking cams (100), wherein the gap (98) extends
up into a central region of the side walls (90).
5. The connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized
in that the adaptor (18) is open on the drive input side and has a
trough-shaped guide channel (102) which runs longitudinally and is
provided with a latching cam (130) on a driving end thereof, said
latching cam being fastened to a transverse wall (136) by means of
a spring tongue (128), wherein the latching cam (130) is connected
via a web (138) to a spring clip (122) which is V-shaped in cross
section and spring arms (124) of which run together in a direction
towards the wiper blade (10) and have stop bars (126) on side
edges, which stop bars project laterally over the side walls (90)
of the adaptor (18).
6. The connecting device (10) according to claim 5, characterized
in that a second latching cam (134) is fastened via a further
spring tongue (132) to the adaptor (18) towards a driven end of
said adaptor (18) in a manner offset with respect to the first
latching cam (130).
7. The connecting device (10) according to claim 5 comprising a
covering cap (20), characterized in that the side walls (108) of
the covering cap (20), starting at driving ends thereof, have in
each case a gap (116) running in the longitudinal direction, by
means of which a lateral wing (114) is respectively formed in a
lower region of an associated side wall (108), via which lateral
wing lateral pressure can be exerted on the stop bars (126) of the
spring clip (122) in order to release the latching cam (130).
8. The connecting device (10) according to claim 7, characterized
in that locking cams (120) are provided on an inside of a top wall
(106) of the covering cap (20), said locking cams releasing when
pressure is applied to the side walls (108) at the driving end
above the lateral wings (114).
9. The connecting device (10) according to claim 7, characterized
in that the side walls (108), the lateral wings (114) and the top
wall (106) of the covering cap have a wall structure at the driving
end, which improves flexibility and the handling.
10. The connecting device (10) according to claim 7, characterized
in that the side walls (108) of the covering cap (20) have two
through-holes (110) which are aligned with one another and are
arranged coaxially with respect to widened portions (144) in the
installation gaps (96) of the side walls (90) of the adaptor
(18).
11. The connecting device (10) according to claim 5, characterized
in that longitudinal ribs (104), which can serve to guide a fifth
joining element (44) and as a stop for the same, are arranged at a
driven end of the guide channel (102).
12. An adaptor (18) for use with a connecting device (10) according
to claim 1, characterized in that said adaptor has the locking cams
(100) on the outsides of the side walls (90) thereof in the region
of the driving end while the installation gaps (96) running
transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction are
arranged in the side walls (90) of the adaptor (18) in a manner
offset in the longitudinal direction relative to the locking cams
(100) with respect to the driven end, and in that the stop edges
(86) are arranged at the transition of the front part (80) of the
adaptor (18) to the driving part of said adaptor (18) and are
elastically flexible in the longitudinal direction.
13. The adaptor (18) according to claim 12, characterized in that
the side walls (90) of the adaptor (18) have respectively a gap
(98) starting at an upper edge on a drive input side of the stop
edge (86) and a gap (98) starting at a lower edge on a drive output
side of the locking cam (100), wherein the gaps (98) extend up into
a central region of the side walls (90).
14. The adaptor (18) according to claim 12, characterized in that
the adaptor (18) is open on the drive input side and has a
trough-shaped guide channel (102) which runs longitudinally and on
a driving end of which a latching cam (130) is provided, which is
fastened to a transverse wall (136) by means of a spring tongue
(128), wherein the latching cam (130) is connected via a web (138)
to a spring clip (122) which is V-shaped in cross section and
spring arms (124) of which run together in a direction towards the
wiper blade (11) and have stop bars (126) on side edges, and in
that the side walls (108) of an associated covering cap (20),
starting at driving ends thereof, have respectively a gap (116)
which runs in the longitudinal direction and by means of which a
lateral wing (114) is formed in each case in a lower region of an
associated side wall (108), via which lateral wing lateral pressure
can be exerted on the stop bars (126) of the spring clip (122) in
order to release the latching cam (130).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention is based on a connecting device for the
articulated connection of a wiper blade to a wiper arm and an
adaptor.
[0002] Besides a wiper arm which is driven by a drive unit,
windshield wipers for motor vehicles have a wiper blade which is
connected in an articulated manner to the wiper arm via a
connecting device. Whereas the drive unit and the wiper arm are not
considered consumable parts and have service lives that extend over
the life of the vehicle, the wiper blade has to be more frequently
renewed. In order to replace the wiper blade, it is desirable that
said wiper blade can easily be removed from the wiper arm and can
be adapted to a plurality of wiper arm types; thus enabling the
component diversity to be held to a minimum. Because the wiper arm
belongs to the original equipment of the motor vehicle, said wiper
arm is greatly influenced by the motor vehicle manufacturer in the
shape and design thereof, whereas the wiper blade as a consumable
component lies within the sphere of influence of the aftermarket
supplier.
[0003] In order to meet the requirements mentioned above, concepts
were developed in which a connecting element is connected in a
rotationally fixed manner to the wiper blade, preferably to the
supporting element thereof, and comprises a part of a joint. The
joining element can be integrally formed with the supporting
element or attached as a separate component to the same. In so
doing, said connecting element can be of single- or multiple-part
configuration. An adaptor is connected in an articulated manner to
the joint part of the connecting element, e.g. a hub or a pivot
pin, by means of a corresponding joint part. The adaptor comprises
form and operational means, by means of which said adaptor fits to
a plurality of types of wiper arms or, respectively, joining
elements which can be connected to the respective wiper arm in a
rotationally fixed but detachable manner.
[0004] A wiper blade comprising a carrier bracket system is known
from the WIPO patent application WO 2004 0696 18 A1, in which an
adaptor is suited to the articulated connection of a wiper rod
having a hook-shaped end as well as to a wiper arm comprising a
straight wiper rod and to a wiper arm which is connected to the
wiper blade according to the side lock principle.
[0005] In addition, a connecting device for the articulated
connection of a wiper blade of flat beam construction is known from
the German patent application DE 202005021307, said connecting
device being suited to different wiper arms. The connecting device
comprises at least one one-piece or multi-piece connecting element,
which is fixedly, but detachably, connected to a supporting element
in the form of spring rails, as well as a bearing element on which
or in which a bearing element fixedly connected to the wiper arm is
pivotably mounted and if need be comprises one or a plurality of
intermediate pieces, by means of which the connecting options of
the connecting element can be matched to the receiving means of the
joining element of the wiper arm. Said connecting pieces are
different for all applications of the connecting device. The
connecting device is suited to a wiper arm comprising a hook-shaped
end or, respectively, joining element or to an end or,
respectively, joining element comprising a lateral bearing pin and
a bridge corresponding to a known side lock principle or to a wiper
arm comprising an end or, respectively joining element, in which
the wiper arm extends substantially in a straight line above the
wiper blade and is connected to the connecting element according to
the top lock principle.
[0006] The German patent application DE 10 2009 000483 A1 discloses
a connecting device for a wiper blade of flat beam construction
which can be connected in an articulated manner to four different
wiper arms or, respectively, joining elements of the wiper arms by
means of an adaptor comprising a covering cap. The adaptor has a
spring clip at the end thereof facing the drive. Said spring clip
extends in a longitudinal direction and has latching cams which
project on the outward facing side surfaces thereof and have two
stop surfaces towards the driven end. The first stop surface
together with the supporting element encloses an acute angle,
whereas the second stop surface extends approximately
perpendicularly with respect to the supporting element. The adaptor
has a button above the spring clip, which button is connected to
said adaptor via a spring tongue and projects beyond the upper
edges of the side walls of said adaptor. The side walls of said
adaptor have respectively a protruding guide rail on the lower
edges thereof, a stop being provided on each guide rail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to the invention, the adaptor has locking cams on
the outsides of the side walls thereof in the region of the driving
end, wherein, in the fitted state, play-compensating ribs of a
first or second joining element or of a covering cap of the adaptor
engage under said locking cams. Securing cams are arranged on the
insides of the side walls of the first joining element, of the
second joining element or of the covering cap in a manner offset in
the longitudinal direction relative to the play-compensating ribs
with respect to the driven end. Said securing cams engage in
installation gaps of the side walls of the adaptor, which gaps run
transversely with respect to the play-compensating ribs. In
addition, in the fitted state, the first joining element, the
second joining element or the covering clamp are clamped between
the installation gaps and a stop edge by the front part which is
elastically flexible in the longitudinal direction, wherein the
stop edge is arranged at the transition of the front part of the
adaptor to the driving part of the adaptor. As a result, a first or
a second wiper arm type can be connected via the same inventive
connecting device to the wiper blade.
[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the stop edge
of the adaptor runs concavely in the region of the side walls. In
addition, the top wall of front part of the adaptor has a spring
latch, which, in the fitted state, overlaps a top wall of the
connecting element or of the covering cap and engages in a latching
recess of the connecting element or of the covering cap. In so
doing, an additional securing of the adaptor relative to the wiper
arms or, respectively, the joining elements thereof as well as to
the covering cap of the adaptor in the direction of a vertical
axis.
[0009] When installing the associated joining element or the
covering cap of the adaptor, said connecting element or covering
cap is held at an incline to the adaptor, so that the
play-compensating ribs of said connecting element or covering cap
engage under the locking cams of the adaptor and can bear on the
end side against corresponding steps. When pivoting the joining
element or the covering cap into an extended position, the front
part of the adaptor is pushed back by a front side of the joining
element or the covering cap; thus enabling the front side of the
joining element or the covering cap, which runs concavely in the
region of the side walls, to engage in the concave shape of the
stop edge of the front part and a spring latch to overlap the top
wall of the joining element at the end face of the top wall of the
front part, which faces towards the joining element, and to engage
in a latching recess at the front edge of the top wall of the
joining element or the covering cap. As a result, the top walls of
the front part and of the joining element or of the covering cap
are flush with each other in the fitted state. In addition, the
securing cams, which are arranged in a manner offset in the
longitudinal direction relative to the play-compensating ribs with
respect to the driven end, engage in installation gaps of the side
walls of the adaptor.
[0010] The movement of the front part required for opening and
closing is achieved by the elastic flexibility of the adaptor.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it is thereby
proposed that the top wall of the front part has a wall structure
which increases the resilience of the spring latch. According to a
further embodiment, the side walls of the adaptor can additionally
have in each case, at the drive input side of the stop edge, a gap
that begins at the upper edge; and, at the drive output side of the
securing cam, a gap beginning at the lower edge, wherein the gaps
extend up into the central region of the side walls. By means of
the gaps, the flexibility of the adaptor can be modified in the
longitudinal direction such that an easy installation of the
joining element or the covering cap is possible on the one hand and
nevertheless a rigid fit that is free of play between the adaptor
on the one hand and the joining element or the covering cap on the
other hand is also ensured. Two different joining elements of the
wiper arm can be attached to the adaptor by means of these
connecting options of the adaptor.
[0011] Two further options result from the fact that the adaptor is
open on the drive input side and has a pressure shaped guide
channel extending in the longitudinal direction, at the driving end
of which a latching cam is provided that is fastened to a
transverse wall by means of a spring tongue, wherein the latching
cam is connected via a web to a V-shaped spring clip in the
transverse web, the spring arms of which run together in the
direction towards the wiper blade and have stop bars on the side
edges. The drive-output-side end faces of the stop bars serve as a
support layer for rear edges of projections on the side walls of
the corresponding joining elements. Said end faces are pushed
during installation from the open side of the adaptor over the stop
bars, wherein the stop bars move towards the inside. When the end
position of the connecting elements is achieved, in which said
joining elements bear with the front side thereof against a stop,
the stop bars move again towards the outside and engage behind the
rear edges of the associated projections. In so doing, the joining
elements are resiliently clamped between the stop bars and the stop
edge on the front part of the adaptor. In addition, said joining
elements can be secured by a latching cam which is connected via a
spring tongue to the adaptor and protrudes to some extent beyond
the side walls towards the top wall of the covering cap.
[0012] A trough-shaped guide channel facilitates the installation
of a substantially rectilinear wiper arm in the shape of a solid
profile which is rectangular in cross section, wherein said profile
can be cranked at the free end thereof and has in practice three
variants. This wiper arm is pushed from the open side into the
guide channel, the latching cam being pressed downwards at the
driving end. The same occurs with a second latching cam that is
arranged on a spring tongue in a manner offset with respect to the
driven end. Upon reaching the end position of the wiper rod, the
end face strikes against a stop. In this position, an opening in
the wiper arm is above the first latching cam; thus enabling said
latching cam to engage and secure the wiper arm in the longitudinal
direction. The play in the direction of a vertical axis can be
modified in the region of the front part of the adaptor by means of
ribs which are arranged on the inner side of the top wall of the
front part.
[0013] Besides being covered by the front part of the adaptor, the
joining elements can be covered by the front part of the covering
cap. In so doing, a particularly nice design results. In addition,
the joint parts are protected from weather and dirt; and wind
noises are furthermore reduced.
[0014] In order to be able to attach a wiper arm according to the
side lock principle, the side walls of the covering cap have two
through-holes which are aligned with one another and are provided
coaxially with respect to first widened portions in the
installation gaps of the side walls of the adaptor.
[0015] Because the adaptor constitutes the core piece of the
connecting device according to the invention, not only the
connecting device is to be protected in its entirety but the
adaptor is additionally to be protected as an individual component.
Further claims are directed to said adaptor.
[0016] Further advantages ensue from the following description of
the drawings. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are depicted
in the drawings. The drawings, the description and the claims
contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the
art will expediently consider the features individually and put
them together to form further useful combinations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] In the drawings:
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective view of a wiper blade
of flat beam construction according to the prior art;
[0019] FIGS. 2 to 7 show different joining elements at the ends of
different wiper arms;
[0020] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of an adaptor comprising a
covering cap during installation;
[0021] FIG. 9 shows a view in the direction of arrow IX;
[0022] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view pursuant to FIG. 9;
[0023] FIG. 11 shows a partial longitudinal section through a part
of an adaptor comprising a covering cap;
[0024] FIGS. 12 to 18 show perspective views of different joining
elements during installation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] In the schematic, perspective depiction of a wiper blade 11
in FIG. 1, the general construction of a wiper blade according to
the prior art can be seen; however, no details are shown. The wiper
blade 11 has support elements 22 in the form of two pre-curved,
flat spring rails on which spoilers 12 are fastened in a
longitudinal direction to both sides of a connecting device 10, the
ends of said spoilers being covered by end caps 14. The connecting
device 10 comprises a connecting element 16 in the form of a sheet
metal claw, which laterally surrounds the support element with the
claws thereof, and an adaptor 18 comprising a covering cap 20.
[0026] The adaptor 18, which is mounted pivotably with respect to
the longitudinal direction on the connecting element 16, can be
connected to wiper arms 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 in a rotationally
fixed but releasable manner. Joining elements 36, 38, 40, 42, 44,
46 which are fastened to the free ends of the wiper arms 24, 26,
28, 30, 32, 34 serve this purpose. The joining elements 36 to 46
can be integrally formed on the wiper arms 24 to 34 or be fastened
as a separate component in a suitable manner by welding, adhesive
bonding, riveting, crimping or the like.
[0027] The adaptor 18 has a front part 80, which faces the driven
end of the wiper blade 11 and on which the main body is fastened at
the driving end thereof. The front part 80 has a U-shaped
cross-sectional profile which is open towards the wiper blade 11
and comprises two side walls 82 and a top wall 84. The further side
walls are denoted with the reference numeral 90. They are connected
to each other between the adaptor 18 and the connecting element 16
by means of transverse walls and bearing means for the joint. The
side walls 90 of the adaptor 18 have installation gaps 96 which
extend in the direction of a vertical axis and have first widened
portions 144 in the region of the upper edge thereof and have
second widened portions 146 in the further course thereof towards
the lower edge. The side walls 82 of the front part 80 project
laterally with respect to the side walls 90 of the adaptor 18. The
stop edge 86 formed in this manner is configured concavely in the
region of the side walls 82 and fits to a front side 54 of the
covering cap 20 or of the first and second joining element 36, 38
of the first and second wiper arm 24, 26.
[0028] A gap 98 runs respectively from the upper edge of the side
walls on the drive input side of the stop edge 86, said gap
extending approximately to the center of the side wall 90. A
similar gap 98 is located at the driving end of the adaptor 18,
which gap however extends from the lower edge of the side wall 90
up into the center region. A locking cam 100 comprising a step 101
is integrally formed on the outer side of the side wall 90 on the
drive output side of the gap 98 at the driven end. A trough-shaped
guide channel 102 is located in the front part 80 below the top
wall 84, in which channel ribs 104 protrude from the top wall 84.
Said ribs reduce the cross section of the guide channel 102 in
accordance with the cross-sectional shape of the fifth joining
element 44 to be received. The ribs 104 can simultaneously serve as
stops for the end faces of the corresponding wiper arms 34. The top
wall 84 of the front part 80 has a spring latch 88, the resilient
properties of which can be modulated by a suitable wall structure
156, on the side facing the covering cap 20. The spring latch 88
fits into a latching recess 112 which is integrally formed on the
front side of a top wall 106 of the covering cap 20.
[0029] The covering cap 20 forms with the top wall 106 thereof and
the side walls 108 a U-shaped cross-sectional profile that is open
towards the adaptor 18. First play-compensating ribs 64 comprising
locking cams 66 are integrally formed on the inner sides of the
lower edges of the side walls 108. During installation, the
covering cap 20 is rotated to such an extent that the first
play-compensating ribs 64 engage under the locking cams 100 and the
drive-input-side end faces can be supported on the steps 101. When
being pivoted into the starting position, the front part 80 is
displaced by the front side 54 of the covering cap 20 which is made
possible by the elasticity of the adaptor 18. In so doing, the
spring latch 88 can engage above the front side 54 of the top wall
106 and latch into the latching recess 112. The convex end faces of
the side walls 108 are simultaneously supported on the concave stop
edge 86; thus enabling the covering cap 20 to be retained in a
play-free manner between the locking cams 100 on the one hand and
the stop edge 86 on the other hand when the front part 80
resiliently moves back into the starting position thereof.
[0030] A first latching cam 130, which is connected to a transverse
wall 136 via a spring tongue 132, is located on the driving end of
the adaptor 18. In addition, a V-shaped spring clip 122 is
connected via a web 138 to the latching cam 130. Spring arms 124 of
the spring clip 122 meet at the tip of a V which faces the wiper
blade 11. Stop bars 126 running in the longitudinal direction are
integrally formed on the lateral edges of the spring arms 124. Said
stop bars 126 run spaced apart at a short distance from and
approximately parallel to the insides of the lateral wings 114 of
the covering cap 20. The lateral wings 114 are formed by parts of
the side walls 108 of the covering cap 20, from which said wings
are partially set apart by gaps 116 that start at the driving end
of the covering cap 20 and extend to a certain extent towards the
driven end. If pressure is exerted at the ends of the lateral wings
114 in the direction of the arrows 150, the stop bars 126 are
pressed to the inside, whereby the spring arms 124 deform in the
direction of the arrows 152 and release the latching cams 130. In
addition, locking cams 120 are arranged on the inside of the top
wall 106, which cams can be released by pressure being exerted onto
the side walls 108 in the direction of the arrows 148 causing the
top wall 106 to arch outwards. In order to facilitate this action
with a minimum expenditure of force, it is expedient to furnish the
region of the top wall 106 and the side walls 108 with a suitable
wall structure 156 which promotes the resiliency of the walls in
this region. A second latching cam 134 which is connected to the
adaptor 18 via a spring tongue 132 is arranged in a manner offset
in the longitudinal direction towards the driving end with respect
to the first latching cam 130.
[0031] FIG. 12 shows the first joining element 36 being mounted to
the adaptor 18. In this case, the covering cap 20 is not used. When
mounting the first wiper arm 24 comprising the joining element 36
thereof, said joining element 36 is held at a certain angle with
respect to the adaptor; thus enabling the first play-compensating
rib 64 to be pushed under the locking cams 100 until said rib bears
on the end side against the steps 101 thereof. When the first
joining element 36 is pivoted back, the securing cams 66 on the
first play-compensating ribs 64 are pushed into the installation
gaps 96, wherein the front part 80 is moved forward as a result of
the further pivoting motion so that the front side of the first
joining element 36 comes to rest at the concave stop edge 86 of the
front part 80. In the end position, the front part 80 of the
adaptor 18, due to the elasticity thereof, moves with the spring
latch 88 thereof over the top wall 50 of the first joining element
36 and engages there in a latching recess 112. The first joining
element 36 is thereby secured in the direction of a vertical axis
by the spring latch 88 and the locking cams 100, while said first
joining element is braced in the longitudinal direction by the step
101, the securing cam 66 and the stop edge 86. The elasticity and
resilience of the adaptor 18, which produces the play-free bracing
between the adaptor 18 and the first joining element 36, can on the
one hand be modified by the gap 98 in the side walls 90 of the
adaptor 18 and on the other hand by wall structures 156 in the top
wall 84 of the front part 80.
[0032] The first wiper arm 24 runs laterally offset with respect to
the first joining element 36, while the second wiper arm 26 runs in
the longitudinal direction with respect to the second joining
element 38. In addition, the second joining element 38 has second
play-compensating ribs 68, which have a shorter extension in the
longitudinal direction. Furthermore, a locking cam 66 separated
from the second play-compensating rib 68 is provided so as to be
spaced apart from the second play-compensating ribs 68 in a manner
offset in the longitudinal direction with respect to the driven
end. These differences are however irrelevant for mounting to the
adaptor 18; thus enabling the second joining element 38 to be
mounted in the same manner as the first joining element 36 to the
adaptor 18. The joining elements 36, 38 have openings 52 in the top
walls 50 thereof, which openings fit a latching cam 134 of the
adaptor 18, whereby the joining elements 36, 38 can be additionally
secured.
[0033] The covering cap 20 is initially mounted on the adaptor 18
when fitting the third wiper arm 28 comprising the third joining
element 40 thereof and the fourth wiper arm 30 comprising the
fourth joining element 42 thereof. The third joining element 40 and
the fourth joining element 42 have respectively a cranked lug 56,
which has an opening 58, integrally formed on the front sides 54
thereof. They are mounted in the same manner. The connecting
element 40 is pushed from the driving end into the interstice
between the adaptor 18 and the covering cap 20, wherein the
latching cam 130 and the latching cam 134 are consecutively pressed
backwards. The stop bars 126 on the spring arms 124 are
simultaneously pressed inwards by the side walls 48 of the joining
element 40 until the front side 54 of the third joining element 40
strikes against a stop 142 in the front part 80 of the adaptor 18.
In this end position, the stop bars 126 reach the rear edges of the
projections 70 on the side walls 48, wherein said stop bars again
assume the starting position thereof due to the elasticity of the
spring arms 124; thus enabling the third joining element 40 to be
secured in the longitudinal direction between the stop 142 and the
end faces of the stop bars 126. For the purpose of disassembly,
pressure is exerted in the direction of the arrows 150 on the
lateral wings 114 of the covering cap 20, whereby the stop bars 126
are displaced inwards so that the third connecting element 40 is
again released in the longitudinal direction.
[0034] The fourth joining element 42 differs for mounting
substantially by virtue of the fact that the rear edge 72 on the
projection 70 runs perpendicularly to the top wall 50 of the fourth
joining element 42 and said fourth joining element has an opening
60 with a lug 62 in the top wall 50. These differences do not
affect the mounting of said joining element to the adaptor 18.
[0035] The fifth joining element 44 of the fifth wiper arm 32 is a
substantially straight bar profile with a rectangular solid cross
section and a cranked end 140 which is pushed in the longitudinal
direction into the guide channel 102, wherein the latching cam 130
and then the latching cam 134 are initially pressed backwards until
the end face of the fifth joining element 44 achieves the end
position, in which the latching cam 130 engages in the opening 60
of the fifth joining element 44. From the inside of the top wall
106, a locking cam 120 engages simultaneously from above in the
opening 60; thus enabling the fifth joining element 44 to be
additionally secured from above in the longitudinal direction by
the covering cap 20. For the purpose of disassembly, pressure is
applied on the stop bars 126 in the direction 150, whereby the
spring arms 124 of the wing 122 are deformed in the direction of
the arrows 152 so that the latching cam 130 is released via the web
138. By applying pressure to the side walls 108 of the covering cap
20 in the direction of arrows 148, the top wall 106 arches, whereby
the locking cam 120 on the inside moves in the direction of the
arrow 154 and releases the fifth joining element.
[0036] The sixth joining element of the sixth wiper arm 34 is
mounted in the usual manner. In so doing, the sixth joining element
is rotated by a certain angle value about a bearing pin 74 so that
a bridge 76 can be pushed with the angled end 78 thereof over the
covering cap 20, wherein the bearing pin 74 is pushed through the
through-openings 110 and the first widened portions 144 of the
installation gaps 96. When pivoting back into the starting
position, the angled end 78 engages above the covering cap 20 and
bears on the adjacent side wall of the covering cap 20. The
position of the sixth joining element 46 is thereby secured in the
longitudinal direction of the bearing pin 74.
* * * * *